Word: yovicsins
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DURING THE YEAR I met the rest of "Fair Harvard's" coaching staff and found them all to be of a similar nature to Yovicsin, Feula and Stephens. In the spring. I reported for Harvard's day of football where the newcomers to the Varsity are timed, and run through drills. I ran a 4.8 in the 40-yard dash. The other halfback prospects--Ted DeMars and Richie Gatto--ran the same time for the 40. But at 210 pounds I was larger than both, outweighing DeMars by 15 pounds and Gatto by 35 pounds. I was pleased with...
...Yovicsin told me that he "even" had a "colored friend who was a psychiatrist", and that during his athletic career he had played on many teams with "colored boys". At Harvard, he said, some of his best players had been "colored boys". He then told me how he was sure I would like Harvard football and attending the school. After Yovicsin finished telling me about his "colored boys" and "colored friends" I asked him if it would be possible for me to meet the other coaches. He said it would, and directed me to the other side...
...understandable, however; as I later found out. Feula had had a long Army career. After nearly breaking my hand with his handshake and a few minutes of small talk. Jimmy too asked me why I had left Drake. I repeated much of what I had previously said to Yovicsin. Then Feula told me how "fair and honest" he was and how he had had "many great colored guys" play for him at Harvard. After talking with "fair and honest" Jimmy, I went next door to meet the backfield coach, Tommy Stephens. Tommy also had a close crewcut, As I entered...
...position. The coaches now more than in the spring were favoring certain white players, especially seniors. Seeing Varney, a senior, at halfback, and watching what appeared to be a deliberate passing over of more suitable players for first-string positions. I began to question the judgement and ability of Yovicsin and his staff...
...believe that I was preparing to play college football. Drake's workouts were long and hard. Everyone was out to knock the hell out of each other, and to win someone else's position. I knew things would be easier at Harvard but not as easy as I found. Yovicsin seemed to be running a "gentleman's" workout as opposed to the do-or-die competition I had come to know. There was no way, really, to beat out a player ahead of you, and it appeared as though the coaches had structured it that...